Procedures

So, I get asked what I am getting done, etc. So here it is folks and details. :)

Large Tummy Tuck - This is a procedure to get rid of the extra skin and fat from the belly area and it also tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. Usually you have a scar from each side of your pelvis below your panty/bathing suit line.

Fat Transfer to Butt - Well, just what it says. They take some of the fat they lipo (which I am sure I will have plenty of) and put it back to the butt area. My butt has become flat since I lost weight, so it will 'perk' it up, heh.

Liposuction on Abdomen, Sides & Back - Goodbye 'flab' that hangs over the bra!!

Breast Augmentation - Well, by filling them back up it 'lifts' them up. If I just did the lift and got rid of all the skin, there'd be nothing left!

Arm lift (incision from the elbow to the armpit) - Bye-bye waving skin!!

Thigh lift (incision from the groin to the knee) - Yeoch. Well, I did it to myself, right? Will make buying jeans much easier. :)

Getting Fed Up

So, I have decided to quit Weight Watchers, and the reason is because I am happy right where I am, at the weight I am, or the weight I was last week or so! I can't stop eating, I don't know why, I am almost PMS'ing, but I don't know what's wrong with me. I actually went to the store at 9pm one night last week just to get some chocolate cake!! I don't think I have done that since I was over 300 lbs!! Ugh, I am so frusterated. I was home sick several days last week so I seem to eat more when sick, but wow, this is bad. Today hasn't been too bad, I feel ok but lord help me the rest of the days. I am so fed up with myself that it's rediculous. Why am I going to spend all this money on plastic surgery if I can't stop eating. I will be over 300 lbs again in no time if I don't stop!

Anyway, the quitting of Weight Watchers... So, I know I am not a perfect weight, but I have lost almost 175 lbs and I am happy right here. I am good with this eating (when I am not eating everything in sight) and I stay around this same weight, so I think this is the weight for me. With plastic surgery I may lose a little, but I am not counting on it. I am good, I am happy. Hey, Marilyn Monroe was a size 12 and she was sexy as hell. She is now my idol! :)

Weigh In Update and Found New Web Site

So, weighed in this past Saturday and gained 2 lbs! I gained ONLY two pounds! Yay! And that was the week of Thanksgiving, I am excited about that. Go me! :)

Found this great web site, http://www.obesityhelp.com. It has everything from beginning to end. Those who are battling weight, all different ways, naturally, surgically, etc., those who are in the middle of their battle, and those who have battled the weight and are ready to get plastic surgeries, etc. There is a whole group set up for Dr. Sauceda's patients, and there are a TON of people who have used him, are using him soon and many patients who will be in Monterrey, Mexico the same time I will! It's nice to be able to ask specific questions of those who have gone through it and been there. It's a great web site. :)

Cute Little Widget

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, another Thanksgiving Day and as always, and as most everyone can say, there is so much to be thankful for.  I won't go into the list, but my family of course is at the top.  After that, it's the support of my friends during this journey.  Got married this year, finally lost the weight that I have been trying to lose for 30 years...and I made the decision to do the plastic surgeries.  I spoke with plastic surgeons several years ago, before I lost the last of the weight and I was so disappointed.  A couple had no experience with massive weight loss...one wanted to just lipo my arms (as if!!) and the other just didn't get it.  The last one, who got it the most, said "I won't do any surgeries until you lose 50 more pounds."  Well, he was right!  But he also gave me a quote of $50K!  Ouch!  I haven't quite lost all the 50 lbs, but I am working on it before surgeries.  And what I don't get off, I am ok with.  I don't want to be Barbie, I just want to look like I would look at 40 if I hadn't been extremely morbidly obese most of my life.

I love my husband, he's the platform that this queen stands on.  He has enabled me to be who I am and allowed me to do the things I want to do.  Thank you Tim.

I love my kids, they put up with me most of the time.  I love my family because no matter what crazy thing I do, they may not agree, but they are still there and they are still my family.

Last but not least, I can only say I am Thankful for this country and for all the people who made it what it was.  We are lucky, regardless of anything else, we are lucky.

Thanks.

Flight Bought, 5 lbs Down and 68 Days til Surgey!

I bought the flight today for my mother and I...wow, it's done.  Forwarded that information to Dr. Sauceda...it's getting exciting now!!


So...weighed in a Weight Watchers and I am down 5 lbs this week, which is awesome!  Now, I have just a small number to get off before surgery...but this week is Thanksgiving, ugh!


68 days to go, can you believe it?  I can't!!  I get asked "are you scared?" a lot...but I have to answer honestly, like I tell all of them.  I am not scared of the surgery, but I am definitely scared of the pain after!  That is honestly the only thing making the butterflies move...those who know me know that I have already had over 100 surgeries in my life, so that's no big deal to me. :)  I hope Dr. Sauceda gives me some good pain meds that just keep me knocked out for a couple days. :)


68 days or 5,875,200 seconds or 97,920 minutes or 1632 hours or 9 weeks (rounded down)!!!

Weighed in at Weight Watchers today!

So, I weighed in today...first time since July 11th...and I gained 8 lbs.  I am actually HAPPY with that!  So...by surgery date I want to lose that 8 lbs, and 19 more...it's doable...right?  :D


I finally scanned this picture.  This is from November 1990...very large indeed!  I was 20 and this is my daughter, she's 19 now!!

What was I thinking wearing yellow sweatpants?!?!  I probably had nothing else that fit!  And what's up with the couch?  Ha ha, I got that couch as a hand-me-down from my parents!  Ugh, very 80's!

And as a comparison, this is me at my wedding April 25, 2009.

Final Date - January 28th, 2010 - 77 days to go!

Ok, so the date is set, buying the airline tickets tomorrow!  January 28th is the date, flying in the 27th and back home on the 8th of February.  My mom is going with me for the entire time, and Corrie says she's going to try to come for a few days towards the end...maybe that last weekend!


I also spoke with my doctor on Monday, he has no issue with me getting the surgeries (even used the word justified) and would support me in doing the physical/bloodwork and the after-care.  He did say though if there was some type of infection he would have to send me to a wound care center...but that is to be expected.  When I left he said "next time I see you it will be in preparation for Mexico!"  Love that doctor, he is great!


Oh lord, 77 days go to!!  Good thing Gregory, Tim and I are going on a cruise on Dec 26th...I will need the preparation stress-relief!  I am not scared of the surgery, not at all, I will be asleep and all will be fine...but I am afraid of the intense pain I will be in for the few days following...but I know that too shall pass!

So...decided.

So I decided to do the injection and the large tummy tuck.  Cheaper for all of those (total of $15,500) and it looks good...also the doctor suggested it so I trust he knows what he's talking about.  I don't know Dr. Sauceda, but I like him already from everyone else I have talked to, but either I am sending him too many emails and he thinks I am a pain, or he's really busy!  I feel like I ask simple questions (confirm the date as the arrival date or surgery date)...and I get no response...I am still going with him, unless something completely changes my mind.  From everyone's stories, I love his style.  He's much more attentive when you're there. :)


Now...I have gained about 10 lbs lately, and I really want to lose it before surgeries of course, but I can't seem to get back on my diet!  Pray for me!!

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! Decisions decisions!

So in my trying to find out everything before I go....I emailed Misty from http://mymexicopsjourney.com/ and asked her a bunch of questions (she answered me within MINUTES!!).  According to her she got the Brazilian butt lift and the small tummy tuck...Dr. Sauceda had suggested to me the Brazilian butt lift (which is fat injections) and and large tummy tuck for me, but I wasn't sure I wanted the big butt!  I looked at a lot of before and after and it really doesn't look that big, it's just 'perkier.'  Here is what one web site says...


"The brazilian butt lift is a type of butt augmentation procedure which results in a youthful, prominent, perky buttocks and a more sensual body profile."


Well, who doesn't want that?!?!  Ha ha!  By the way, on this web site that I got this from (the doctor is in Baltimore), the brazilian butt lift is between $16,000 -$18,000!!!  Can you believe it, that's what it will cost for ALL my surgeries in Mexico!!


I also sent a comment on http://livingtheskinnylife.blogspot.com/ and asked her if she wouldn't mind answering questions also.  She just had her surgeries last month and looks like she had the lift also...heh, and she looks awesome!


So, all in all I think I am going to change the procedures to the lift and large tummy tuck...it's cheaper too!  Ha ha!


By the way, when I told Misty I was doing arm lift and thigh also she was like "wow, you're getting a lot done" and "you're a brave soul"...so now I'm getting more nervous, ha ha!!) 

Wow...a date??

So, in talking with Dr. Sauceda...we picked a date...it's Jan 28, but I am not sure if that is arrival date or surgery date.  I am going with Dr. Sauceda because of all the wonderful things I have read about him and the people's stories I have followed through using him, but he is a bit cryptic in his emails and doesn't always respond to everything you say.  I know there is a language barrier, but it does worry me, just a bit.  I am afraid I am going to get there and do my consultation and we won't be in sync with what's going on, ack!  :)  I trust all will be well though, and it's less than three months away!!  OH NO!

Prices

So, I got a response back from the Doctor...which I was biting my nails waiting for...sending those types of pictures over the internet is a bit...scary.  Anyway, the total cost he is suggesting is $15,500...that includes pretty much everything except for food.  I agree with all his suggestions...except the fat injection in the butt.  I never thought I had a bad butt...and being fat for so long has depleted it, but I think I am ok with leaving it just the way it is.  I don't need to be J-Lo!  He also suggested large tummy tuck instead of body lift....so I asked him what the difference was.  We'll see!  I feel better now...he didn't run away screaming!  :p

My Story

Today is the day I start..I am starting today...ugh. Here is me...


I am a 39 year old married (just this year for the second time) mother of two (18 & 11) who now weighs around 200lbs...and at my highest I weighed in at around 375 (way back in 1997). At this weight, I am the smallest I have been in my adult life...so...imagine the shape my body is in. Skin. Have enough of it for Frankenstein to get a make over too.


Over the years I have done many things to lose weight...did Fen-Phen in 1997, lost ~ 25 lbs, did Weight Watchers several times, up and down, and did it again in 2003 and lost ~ 50 pounds, at this point I weighed 297 (under 300 was HUGE!!). Had vertical banded gastroplasty (stomach staple) in 2004 and then lost ~ 85, and gained quite a bit back. Got back up to around 255 or so. Started Weight Watchers again, went down ~ 50 and am hovering around 200 pounds and have been for a while. I am happy here, I feel good here, I feel healthy here. I hate my body here. I hate my arms, my breasts, my thighs, my back, my stomach...everything on the outside...love the inside. My husband loves me, my kids love me, I love me. I just want to look like the person I was meant to look like when I turned 40...not a woman who's carried 200 extra pounds all of her adult life. I don't care about a face life, eye lift, any of that...I just want to be able to feel comfortable wearing short sleeved shirts...find a bra that fits...wear shorts in the summer...back to my thighs...just to give you a picture, the skin actually floats when I take a bath...kinda gross, huh?


So, the weight loss journey has been a long one and I will still lose a bit more pounds, but I'm happy, I have found a good place for me...so now it's time to take the next step...plastic surgery.


So, after a long time of watching online forums, a lot of reading, a lot of listening to others, a lot of a lot...I decided on Mexico...Dr. Francisco Sauceda. I emailed him my pictures last night...oh lord, you don't realize how bad it is until you see yourself naked!! I don't know how my husband finds me attractive...ugh.


Here is some information including his web site.
http://www.medicaltourism.com.mx/
http://mymexicopsjourney.com/